Page:Italian Literature.pdf/14

Than his lov'd parents—than his children more—
More than himself!—Oh! no, it shall not be!
Thou perish, O Alcestis! in the flower
Of thy young beauty!—perish, and destroy
Not him, not him alone, but us, but all,
Who as a child adore thee! Desolate
Would be the throne, the kingdom, reft of thee.
And think'st thou not of those, whose tender years
Demand thy care?—thy children! think of them!
O thou, the source of each domestic joy,
Thou, in whose life alone Admetus lives,
His glory, his delight, thou shalt not die,
While I can die for thee!—Me, me alone,
The oracle demands—a wither'd stem,
Whose task, whose duty, is, for him to die.
My race is run—the fulness of my years,
The faded hopes of age, and all the love
Which hath its dwelling in a father's heart.
And the fond pity, half with wonder blent,
Inspired by thee, whose youth with heavenly gifts
So richly is endowed; all, all unite
To grave in adamant the just decree.
That I must die. But thou, I bid thee live!
Pheres commands thee, O Alcestis! live!
Ne'er, ne'er shall woman's youthful love surpass
An aged sire's devotedness.

Alc. I know
Thy lofty soul, thy fond paternal love;
Pheres, I know them well, and not in vain
Strove to anticipate their high resolves.
But if in silence I have heard thy words,
Now calmly list to mine, and thou shalt own
They may not be withstood.

Phe. What can'st thou say
Which I should hear? I go, resolved to save
Him who with thee would perish;—to the shrine
E'en now I fly.

Alc. Stay, stay thee! 'tis too late.
Already hath consenting Proserpine,
From the remote abysses of her realms,
Heard and accepted the terrific vow
Which binds me, with indissoluble ties,
To death. And I am firm, and well I know
None can deprive me of the awful right
That vow hath won.
****
Alc. Yes! thou may'st weep my fate,
Mourn for me, father! but thou can'st not blame
My lofty purpose. Oh! the more endear'd
My life by every tie, the more I feel
Death's bitterness, the more my sacrifice